Final Results
Photo Gallery
Lourdes took on the third-ranked team in NCAA Division II on Wednesday evening, suffering a 35-15 setback to Ashland inside the Franciscan Center Gymnasium.
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The Gray Wolves, who lost 52-0 to the Eagles one season ago, managed to record victories in three of the 10 weight classes on the evening, showing the team's improvement from the inaugural season.
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"This was a tough opponent for us tonight," head coach
Dock Kelly III said after the match. "However, our belief is that competing against quality competition will make us better."
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Lourdes wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as
Ray Porter (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville H.S.) earned an 8-3 decision in the 125-pound weight class. After surrendering the first two points of his match, he scored the next eight on his way to improving to 3-0 on the season.
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Tyler Roberts (Hudson, Mich./Hudson H.S.) kept his match close at 133 pounds before suffering a loss via decision by the same 8-3 score. Ashland took the lead via fall at 141 pounds and followed that effort up with a technical fall at 149 to build a 14-3 lead in the match.
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The Gray Wolves cut into the deficit just before halftime, as
Ty Wilson (Puyallup, Wash./Rogers H.S.) registered a first period fall at the 2:22 mark to pull Lourdes within five, 14-9, at intermission. For Wilson, it was his team-leading eighth fall while improving to 10-4 on the year.
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Ashland took control coming out of the break, recording a major decision, a technical fall, and a fall in the next three contests to push the lead to 29-9.
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Joe Guillory (Elk Grove, Calif./Franklin H.S.) was credited with his first victory of the season for Lourdes, earning a win via forfeit at 197 pounds before Ashland (4-4) closed out the match with one final fall at 285 pounds.
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"It was great to put some points up on the board against them tonight, as that will give us something to build upon," Kelly added. "We have to put this result behind us immediately and get prepared for our matches this weekend."
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Lourdes (2-10) travels to the Mel Berry Duals this weekend hosted by Thiel. The Gray Wolves face Muskingum at 1 p.m., the host Tomcats at 2:30 p.m., and Mercyhurst North East at 4 p.m. inside Beeghly Gymnasium in Greenville, Pa.
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